ASEAN, Japan vow to further strengthen comprehensive strategic partnership

By Anadolu staff

Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday agreed to further advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides.

The agreement came during 27th ASEAN-Japan Summit in Laos capital Vientiane, attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and regional leaders.

"The Summit reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to further advancing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) established last year, and discussed future direction of the relations based on mutual trust, respect, benefit, win-win cooperation and equal partnership," said a brief statement by ASEAN on X.

This is Prime Minister Ishiba's first foreign visit after taking office on Oct. 1. It came a day after he dissolved the parliament for a snap election on Oct. 27.

Ishiba, who arrived in Vientiane early Thursday, is expected to separately meet South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid